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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or does she have squatters rights?

232 replies

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 18:22

We live in a 3 bed semi with no potential to move, extend or convert the attic.
Me and dh have one bedroom, dd13 and ds10 ( he has asd and adhd) share one room.
Dd 14 (she has adhd and asd) has her own box sized room.

Around two and a half years ago ds had the box room and the two girls shared.
My eldest dd was very difficult to share a room with. No emotional regulation, huge meltdowns, repeated unkind behaviour and she would stay up until the early hours.
After months of sleepless nights, we decided to put ds (then 8) and middle dd (then 10) in one room and give eldest dd her own bedroom in the box room. This did restore peace in the house for a while.

We've now reached a point where middle dd (13) needs her own bedroom. Her little brother is annoying her and she is embarrassed to have friends over.

We have found a company who will build us a floor to ceiling bunk bed as a room divider and split the one room into two box sized rooms. At the end of the bunk will be a doorframe with a fully opening and closing door. This will be cladded so that there are no gaps between the two sides of the bed - essentially creating two box rooms.

Middle dd has said she would like the existing orginal box room ( currently dd14 bedroom) to be her room, she is the only one out of the three who hasn't had use of it. She is also the only one of the three to have always had to share a room.

The original box room can only fit a shorty style bed which is perfect as middle dd is quite small. The two new box rooms fit full sized single mattresses which is better for dd14 as she is taller than me.
Where my eldest dd and youngest ds both have adhd and asd they are night owls staying up watching tv until the early hours. Middle dd loves routine and is often asleep by 10ish.

Eldest dd14 is refusing to even discuss a move into one of the newly built box rooms.
She is quite literally claiming squatters' rights. Generally speaking, it's often her way or no way, she isn't able to have calm discussions and will have a meltdown if I try to discuss it with her. When we first brought the topic up (in the car) she shouted a lot and repeatedly shouted no over and over and kicked the back of my chair quite hard.

My gut tells me that middle dd13 is due her turn in the existing box room. I think it's better for the two children that stay up all night to share a party wall rather than all three be awake because either one of them is bugging middle dd.

I also feel that as a family we have always prioritised dd14 needs and that she does need to accept that sometimes in life she can't always get her own way and needs to learn to compromise.

So aibu to insist that DD14 move into one of the newly built box rooms.which fits a bed more suitable for her size? Does DD14 have squatters' rights? Or does DD13 have a fair argument in that she needs some peace and quiet and her turn of the original box room? DD13 has been sharing and compromising for the last two years by sharing with her brother so I do feel her argument has a fair bit of weight to it

OP posts:
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Curtainqueen · 20/01/2025 16:58

Olaatur9rx49f · 20/01/2025 16:53

That kid need a professional help, she need to understand and learn how to talk. I am so happy my brothers are nice, I would hate the sister like her.

Out of interest, what did you even put in the search to find this thread? It was finished 3 months ago.

Olaatur9rx49f · 20/01/2025 16:53

That kid need a professional help, she need to understand and learn how to talk. I am so happy my brothers are nice, I would hate the sister like her.

AmIEnough · 23/10/2024 08:21

@DoreenonTil8

Mookytoo
She had no rights.
And due to her antisocial behavior
she is being evicted and
rehoused

you make the rules

This, does her siblings have to follow her demands generally? I also feel that as a family we have always prioritised dd14 needs

I can't believe you've made a 13 girl share with a younger brother to mollify a sibling.

You guys have clearly never had to deal with a child with ASD and ADHD.

AmIEnough · 23/10/2024 08:17

DelphiniumBlue · 20/10/2024 18:39

Even squatters don't have rights these days, and a child living in her parents home is neither a squatter nor entitled to any particular bedroom.
Presumably the actual move into the newly created room is going to be some weeks down the line, and DD needs time to get used to the idea. Keep talking about it as a decision that has already been made, not in a confrontational way, but in a casual conversational way. Do not be drawn into arguments, but do state how it is now DD2's turn for the boxroom. You could discuss with them all how they would like their rooms decorated/colourschemes/bedding etc, but don't let DD1 think that you are going to budge on this. Let her see preparations, eg packing up the big room prior to the transformation, asking her if she wants to keep XYZ. She is the child and you are the grownup, and she needs to understand that you decide what will happen, not her, and your decision will be about what works for the family as a whole and what is fair.

This is a brilliant response. I have a daughter with ASD and ADHD and I also have ADHD myself so am very well aware of the difficulties and this response is absolutely the way to approach it. I wish you all the best.

WhatsInTheRug · 22/10/2024 18:24

sweeneytoddsrazor · 22/10/2024 11:35

Do you have two rooms downstairs or could you have a sofa bed for yourself downstairs. Are you even allowed to do what you are proposing in a HA home?

Well since the legalities and safety concerns have been mentioned op seems to have disappeared

Codlingmoths · 22/10/2024 11:46

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 21:14

He functions well, school reports are good. No behaviour issues .Eldest dd is falling asleep in class and we are in desperate need of melatonin. We have tried removing the tv after a certain time but her meltdowns are LOUD and full on and camhs advised that perhaps the background noise is soothing for her? Either way once they rationalised it in front of her that was that argument said and done.

Have you tried swapping tv for audiobooks? Could be more calming for everyone who has to hear it and you could maybe put in some decent books 😁 we do audiobooks for getting my eldest to sleep sometimes.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 22/10/2024 11:35

Do you have two rooms downstairs or could you have a sofa bed for yourself downstairs. Are you even allowed to do what you are proposing in a HA home?

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 22/10/2024 11:17

WaitingForMojo · 22/10/2024 10:50

🙄 at the last part.

But the first part is completely one dimensional. I like to think that as a society we’re more evolved than that.

But I get it now, you’re not very nice, and I’ll just scroll on.

That's fine, "nice" isn't a compliment anyway.

Another2Cats · 22/10/2024 11:15

Detchi · 22/10/2024 10:55

@Another2Cats thanks for the correction. My bad.

All the same from what you've quoted, if his bedroom is on the first floor - as most bedrooms in 3 bed semis are - removing his access to a second escape point does change what is needed to make the house fire safe for him.

If there isn't an escape window then, yes, the rooms will need to be upgraded to have fire doors etc.

This is just the same as if it was a loft extension.

Detchi · 22/10/2024 10:55

@Another2Cats thanks for the correction. My bad.

All the same from what you've quoted, if his bedroom is on the first floor - as most bedrooms in 3 bed semis are - removing his access to a second escape point does change what is needed to make the house fire safe for him.

WaitingForMojo · 22/10/2024 10:50

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 22/10/2024 06:48

At a societal level that is the main point of raising children though. Whether you find that offensive is neither here nor there. Some people find it offensive when you say that humans can't change sex too.

🙄 at the last part.

But the first part is completely one dimensional. I like to think that as a society we’re more evolved than that.

But I get it now, you’re not very nice, and I’ll just scroll on.

SereneFish · 22/10/2024 10:41

I think your middle daughter should be prioritised for once.

Xenia · 22/10/2024 10:36

First of all work out what the council rental agreement allows you do to in terms of dividing a room.. Then assuming it is lawful to divide it I would leave the 14 year old where she is and the other 2 can have the divided room. It can also be a lesson to all of the children that if you want to avoid this get very high paid jobs after university and then you can choose to buy 5 bed houses etc. She is 14 and about to start GCSE courses. Her route out of council accommodation could be doing very well at school and very carefully picking jobs with very high salaries.

Another2Cats · 22/10/2024 10:32

Detchi · 22/10/2024 08:11

True. Fire regs also - no one should be sleeping in a room with only one exit. Hopefully there's a way for the boy to access the window or other second exit point in an emergency.

"no one should be sleeping in a room with only one exit."

That really isn't the case at all.

Building Regs say that for a room on the ground floor then a room should have either an opening directly onto a hall leading to a final exit or an emergency escape window.

Notice the words "either" and "or". It means just one of them, not both.

Then for rooms on the first floor it is either an emergency escape window or direct access to a protected stairway (this is one with fire doors etc).

For houses with three stories (eg a house with a loft conversion) then the second storey and above must have a protected stairway.

Nowhere in Building Regs does it say that a room must have more than one exit.

Worriedmum1975 · 22/10/2024 10:25

Just wanted to say that I have two teenagers with asd and adhd. Thr oldest sounds very much like your daughter. They live in supported accommodation now because it just didn't work with the two of them here. They also have a diagnosis of eupd. You're not alone OP.

Longleggedgiraffe · 22/10/2024 10:20

DoreenonTill8 · 20/10/2024 19:11

This, does her siblings have to follow her demands generally? I also feel that as a family we have always prioritised dd14 needs

I can't believe you've made a 13 girl share with a younger brother to mollify a sibling.

This. This is totally unfair on your 13 year old. She needs her personal space. Presumably she's started her periods? How utterly embarrassing for both of them. Her and her younger brother appear to have got the short straw over this. They deserve consideration too. You need to grow a backbone and put your foot down. You are the parent. Act like one. And no, this doesn't mean acting like a dictator. It means you go about it with sensitivity and tact, but your daughter needs to realise that you are in charge, not her.
So far, it seems everyone has been pandering to her and this has to stop.

AnotherEmma · 22/10/2024 09:43

OP, the room which is currently your bedroom - is it bigger than bedroom 2? Does it have two windows? If so, maybe you could divide that room in two, and you can move into bedroom 2.

Detchi · 22/10/2024 08:11

Playgroundincident · 22/10/2024 07:06

You need to make sure there is light and ventilation to each room otherwise sounds hellish.

True. Fire regs also - no one should be sleeping in a room with only one exit. Hopefully there's a way for the boy to access the window or other second exit point in an emergency.

Playgroundincident · 22/10/2024 07:06

You need to make sure there is light and ventilation to each room otherwise sounds hellish.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 22/10/2024 06:48

WaitingForMojo · 21/10/2024 23:27

I hope so, but that doesn’t make it the ‘main point’ of raising a child. What an offensive comment

At a societal level that is the main point of raising children though. Whether you find that offensive is neither here nor there. Some people find it offensive when you say that humans can't change sex too.

WaitingForMojo · 21/10/2024 23:27

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 21/10/2024 20:19

I assume the OP hopes that in her daughter's case it will be achievable.

I hope so, but that doesn’t make it the ‘main point’ of raising a child. What an offensive comment

WaitingForMojo · 21/10/2024 23:24

SweetSakura · 21/10/2024 18:26

Meltdown, tantrum, the key point is neither should result in a changed outcome just because of fear of the behaviour.

That said, whether it is a tantrum or a meltdown I do always think whether the child is making an actual important point and if so might change my decision not because of the behaviour but because they made a valid point.

But no, fear of a meltdown is not a good reason to prioritise one child over the others.

Did anyone actually say it was?

TheSnugHare · 21/10/2024 21:52

WhatsInTheRug · 21/10/2024 19:26

Sofa beds are generally designed for occasional use.....not every night

You have a point but.. you again 😐

Teddybear23 · 21/10/2024 20:43

Jifmicroliquid · 20/10/2024 20:01

Oh for god sake, get a grip.

I am autistic myself. Yet I was still raised to learn that there’s times in life that I couldn’t have things my way.
As a result I am a fully functioning member of society.

We have too many people who are too terrified of upsetting their SEN kids, or rocking the boat, that they fail to parent them and constantly use their SEN as their excuse.

Edited

Totally agree, sometimes it makes me wonder who the parents are these days.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 21/10/2024 20:19

WaitingForMojo · 21/10/2024 11:03

But it isn’t a tantrum. It’s a meltdown, which is a neurological response to overload, not a behavioural trick to secure what she wants. Completely different.

I also disagree that the main point of parenthood is to raise independent adults who are capable of functioning in society. Do you realise that in saying that, you are dismissing children for whom that will never be achievable and dismissing parenting them as pointless?

I assume the OP hopes that in her daughter's case it will be achievable.

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